Prairie Afire (Brand 1932) A very lovely Japanese variety. The guards are broad 
and soft, creamy rose with good substance. A full center of brilliant red stam- 
inodes gave it its name. $2.50 
Salute (Kelsey 1936) Japanese type. Very large, pink guard petals with light yellow 
staminodes to a deeper yellow at base. Midseason bloomer. $2.00 
Sunmist (Nicholls 1942) Late midseason, very large blush guards with deep yellow 
staminodes. Tall and extra good. $2.50 
Tamate Boku (Origin unknown) 9.4 Doubtless originated in Japan, where records 
are often indefinite and confused. As the rating indicates, this is a most de- 
sirable peony that has held its price for many years. It is an extremely slow 
grower and not a profitable one for the nurseryman due to this fact, but when 
once established, the blooms produced are immense. Enormous cupped petals 
of old rose-pink. Center composed of very long, threadlike staminodes, yellow 
at the base, with rose-pink, flat, crinkled tips, tinted buff at the edges. Downy 
pale-green carpels, with vivid pink line at base and striking rose-red tips. 
Slight fragrance, if any Japanese type bloom can be called fragrant. Think 
“odor” would better describe this quality. $4.50 
Vista (Kelsey 1940) Midseason Jap. Pink guards and fine yellow staminodes in 
center. Very large bloom. In Mr. Kelsey’s notes we find the following: “Better 
than Ama-no-sode.” Rather dwarf grower. $2.50 
Westerner (Bigger 1942) Here is a new and grand origination not yet officially 
rated. To date, only a few plants disseminated. Stock scarce and exceedingly 
limited. Japanese type, midseason. The guard petals are very large of a beau- 
tiful shade of light pink. The center is filled with yellow staminodes that are 
extremely firm and erect. The combination of yellow and pink is most pleas- 
ing. The real charm of this variety lies in the cup-shaped form of the flower 
and the sturdy, recurved petals so gracefully poised and held so rigidly erect. A 
most charming introduction of exceptional merit and appeal. $6.00 
Yellow King (Unknown) 9.06 Early, large, pale pink guards, vivid yellow stami- 
nodes. This is a very beautiful flower that came from Mrs. Harding’s garden 
but is not her origination and she did not know its origin. A very good Jap. 
variety. Stock limited. $3.00 
DARK PINK JAPANESE PEONIES 
Ama-no-sode (Japan) 9.2 Here is a Japanese type of peony much admired and is 
popular with peony fanciers. Extremely large, having two rows of long, wide- 
spread petals of rose-pink, forming a saucer-like cup about an immense center 
of long, yellow staminodes, with flattened, crinkled tops stained with rose. 
Carpels green, with yellowish tips. Very desirable and a worth-while variety. 
$2.00 
Cathedral (Origin unknown) 8.1 Large midseascn Jap. Vivid, dark rose guard petals 
with narrow, lighter edges. Compact center of long, pale-pink petaloids with 
pointed tips and yellow base. A very free bloomer. Also listed as Hana-no-sato 
in some catalogs. Slightly fragrant. $1.50 
Filagree (Kelsey 1936) Japanese type. Large rose-pink. Staminodes straw color. 
A very striking plant. Tall and vigorous. Early bloomer. Staminodes so full 
they almost cover the petals. Something off the beaten path. $3.50 
(Japanese Peonies continued on page 30) 
27 
